Dear Valued VCH Readers, Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vegetable Crops Hotline! As we move deeper into September, two critical factors are shaping Indiana’s agricultural landscape: the rapid onset of drought conditions and the approaching pumpkin harvest season. The U.S. Drought Monitor reveals a dramatic shift in our state’s moisture status—from just 26%…Read more about From The Editor’s Desk[Read More]
If you have any stakes in agriculture, you may have noticed a fairly rapid drying trend as summer has come to a close. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor on September 2, 76 percent of Indiana is considered abnormally dry—up from just 26 percent one week earlier. Moderate drought conditions have also expanded from less…Read more about Abnormally Dry and Drought Conditions Are On The Rise[Read More]
Basil downy mildew has appeared in northern Indiana. As described in a previous article, this pathogen does not overwinter; instead, it must blow in from the south. It can move rapidly through the crop, making it unmarketable. Earlier this year, Meg McGrath, plant pathologist retired from Cornell, notified us that Rutgers researchers are requesting…Read more about Basil Downy Mildew Samples Needed for Research[Read More]
Small and medium-sized vegetable farms face unique challenges balancing profitability with sustainable production practices and food safety requirements. To better understand how these farmers navigate complex decision-making processes, the Soil to Market Team—comprising Maria Marshall, Renee Wiatt, Petrus Langenhoven, Betty Feng, and Nathan Shoaf—conducted a comprehensive survey of 500 small and medium-sized farmers across the…Read more about Understanding Farm Decision-Making: Insights from the 2024-2025 Producer Survey[Read More]
As pumpkin season approaches, proper harvest timing and post-harvest handling become critical for maintaining fruit quality and maximizing storage life. Whether you’re growing Halloween jack-o’-lanterns or pie pumpkins for the holiday market, following best practices through harvest and storage will help ensure your season ends on a successful note. Determining the Right Harvest Time For…Read more about Maximizing Pumpkin Quality: From Harvest to Storage[Read More]
Common names: common waterhemp, tall waterhemp Latin name: Amaranthus tuberculatus Family: Amaranthaceae (pigweed family) General description and identification Waterhemp is an upright, tall, summer annual herbaceous plant. It is native to the United States and has historically been found in waterways and floodplains. Today, waterhemp is often found in disturbed habitats, such as agricultural fields….Read more about Weed Spotlight: Waterhemp[Read More]
Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 1:30–5:00 p.m. EDTLocation: Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC)Address: 4369 N. Purdue Road, Vincennes, IN 47591 Registration: https://tinyurl.com/SWPACpumpkin • or call 812-886-0198 Questions? Contact Wenjing Guan (guan40@purdue.edu), Valerie Clingerman (clingerman@purdue.edu), or Barb Joyner (joynerb@purdue.edu). Tentative agenda 1:30–2:00 p.m. – Registration2:00–2:10 p.m. – Welcome to SWPAC — Dennis Nowaskie, SWPAC superintendent2:10–2:30 p.m….Read more about Southwest Purdue Ag Center Pumpkin Field Day[Read More]
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